» Lessons from a church planting movement

All we know how to do is make disciples but now we have 700 churches.

Ralph Moore

There is a scarcity of dynamic church planting movements in the Western world. That’s why Ralph Moore and the Hope Chapel movement got my attention. Not only have they planted around 700 churches in since 1972, but many of those churches are now themselves parents, grandparents, great grandparents and even great great grandparents of new churches.

If Ralph Moore had planted a church in Hawaii that grew to 10,000 people he’d be world famous. Instead he planted a church that multiplies churches that together amount to 70,000 people.

Hope Chapel church planters are not seminary graduates but disciples, many of whom have come to faith through the movement and grown into leadership in the local church.

Last month I traveled to Hawaii for a six-day Church Multiplication Practicum with Ralph Moore and the Hope Chapel movement. That’s me above second from the left with Ralph Moore on my right surrounded by some disreputable leaders from Australia and New Zealand.

Over the next few posts I’ll be tell you what I learnt about church planting movements. . .